Tree stand with seat leveling shelf lock

Abstract

A tree stand may include a platform, a post pivotable between an upright position relative to the platform and a folded position along the platform, a seat pivotable between a seat position and a shelf position, a leveling tab extending from the post, a shelf tab extending from the post, and a seat leveling shelf lock movably connected to and projecting from the seat The seat is pivotable between a first position in which the seat leveling shelf lock engages the leveling tab to establish an angle of the seat relative to the post in the seat position while the post is in the upright position and a second position in which the seat leveling shelf lock engages the shelf tab to retain the seat in the shelf position while the post is in the folded position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tree stand comprising:
 a platform;   a post pivotably connected to the platform, the post being pivotable between an upright position relative to the platform and a folded position along the platform;   a seat pivotably connected to the post, the seat being pivotable between a seat position and a shelf position;   a leveling tab extending from the post;   a shelf tab extending from the post; and   a seat leveling shelf lock movably connected to and projecting from the seat, wherein the seat is pivotable between a first position in which the seat leveling shelf lock engages the leveling tab to establish an angle of the seat relative to the post in the seat position while the post is in the upright position and a second position in which the seat leveling shelf lock engages the shelf tab to retain the seat in the shelf position while the post is in the folded position.   
     
     
         2 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the platform comprises an opening receiving the leveling tab when the post is in the folded position. 
     
     
         3 . The tree stand of  claim 2 , wherein the leveling tab and the post are integrally formed as a single unitary body. 
     
     
         4 . The tree stand of  claim 3 , wherein the shelf tab and the post are integrally formed as a single unitary body. 
     
     
         5 . The tree stand of  claim 4 , wherein the seat leveling shelf lock is removable from the seat. 
     
     
         6 . The tree stand of  claim 5 , wherein the seat comprises an internally threaded bore and wherein the seat leveling shelf lock comprises an external thread, the seat leveling shelf lock being threaded through the internally threaded bore and being translatable by rotation of the seat leveling shelf lock relative to the seat. 
     
     
         7 . The tree stand of  claim 6 , wherein the seat is pivotable by at least 180 degrees between the seat position and the shelf position. 
     
     
         8 . The tree stand of  claim 6 , wherein the seat leveling shelf lock extends through the shelf tab while the post is in the folded position. 
     
     
         9 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling tab and the shelf tab extend from opposite sides of the post. 
     
     
         10 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling tab, the shelf tab, and the post are integrally formed as a single unitary body. 
     
     
         11 . The tree stand of  claim 10 , wherein the leveling tab the, the shelf tab, in the post are cast from aluminum as a single unitary body. 
     
     
         12 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the seat leveling shelf lock is removable from the seat. 
     
     
         13 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the seat comprises an internally threaded bore and wherein the seat leveling shelf lock comprises an external thread, the seat leveling shelf lock being threaded through the internally threaded bore and being translatable by rotation of the seat leveling shelf lock relative to the seat. 
     
     
         14 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the seat leveling shelf lock extends through the shelf tab while the post is in the folded position. 
     
     
         15 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the seat is pivotable by at least 180 degrees between the seat position and the shelf position. 
     
     
         16 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the seat leveling shelf lock comprises a bolt and a nut threaded onto the bolt. 
     
     
         17 . The tree stand of  claim 1 , wherein the leveling tab and the shelf tab extend from opposite sides of the post and wherein the leveling tab is offset relative to shelf along a longitudinal axis of the post. 
     
     
         18 . The tree stand of  claim 1  further comprising a shoulder strap connectable to at least one of the platform and the post when the post is in the folded position and while the seat is in the shelf position. 
     
     
         19 . A method for transporting a tree stand, the method comprising:
 pivoting a post of the tree stand from an upright position to a folded position along a platform;   pivoting a seat of the tree stand from a seat position on a first side of the post overhanging the platform to a shelf position on a second side of the post opposite the first side;   engaging a leveling tab projecting from the post with a seat leveling shelf lock projecting from the seat with the seat in the seat position; and   engaging a shelf tab projecting from the post with the seat leveling shelf lock projecting from the seat with the seat in the shelf position.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising:
 threading the seat leveling shelf lock through the seat into engagement with the leveling tab when the seat is in the seat position; and 
 threading the seat leveling shelf lock through the seat while the seat leveling shelf lock is engaged to the shelf tab to retain the seat in the shelf position.